Self-sharpening safety razor



J1me 1953 w. F. ECKERT SELF-SHARPENING SAFETY RAZOR 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 7', 1951 ill ZZZ J 4 0 a? I? Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTL *Q'FFICE' If 7 2,640,258 g 1 1 SELF-SHARPENING SAFETYV'RA'ZOR William F. Eckert, Mauch Chunk, re. V I I Application August v, 1951, Serial 316,240,713

- soli s'fwrso ss) V I v This invention relates to safety razors of a'type having a single cutting edge, and in particular a safety razor having a substantially U shaped head, the inner surface of which is lined with a leather strip and the blade which is clamped between the open edges of the head in the shaving osition by a handle is provided with holders on the ends by which the blade is reciprocated in the head to sharpen the cutting edge thereof. lhe purpose of this invention is to provide asafety razor in which the blade thereof is used for an indefinite time. Various devices have been provided for sharpening blades of safety razors, however, it is dimcult to combine sharpening elements with the razor head without interfering withnormal use of the razorf With "thisf th ought' in mind this invention contemplates" as'a'fety razor in which the toothed guard is formed on the edge of the head and the head is extended in the form of a U whereby with theinner surface lined a sharpening element the blade may be sharpened by drawing both sides of the cutting edge thereof along the sharpening element.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming the head of a safety razor whereby a sharpening device may be incorporated therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety razor in which sharpening elements may be incorporated in the head without unnecessarily enlarging the head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self-sharpening safety razor which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a safety razor in which the head is formed of a flat strip of spring steel bent midway of its length to form a U and with a loop extended from one arm around the other to limit opening movement thereof, a razor blade having holders on the ends freely positioned in the head whereby the blade is actuated to contact sharpening surfaces in the head for sharpening, and a handle threaded in the loop extended from one arm of the head and positioned to clamp the opposite arm of the head against the arm from which the loop extends for clamping a razor blade in cutting position between the arms of the head.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating v the improved safety razor with the parts i shaving position.

Figure 2 is a similarviewlooking in thefopp'osite direction and showingit'he shaving head or blade clamping parts holder in section. Figure 3 is a .plan view of the razor with the parts as shownin Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevational threaded end of the handle in'thefpos'itio'n 'of clamping a blade between the arms of the head.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan showingthe razor-f blade in the cutting position on the"lower arm ofthe head.

Figure 6 is a sideeleva'tional views" lar to the upper arm of the head for sharpening.

Figure '7 is a longitudinal section through the head of the razor showing "the position of -theblade reversed wherein the lower side of the cutting edge is in engagement with the inner surface of the lower arm of the head.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view similar to that shown in Fig. 4 with the blade released as in the position shown in Fig. '7.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the razor with the bar forming the lower side of the loop extended from one arm of the head removed whereby the blade may be removed from the head or holder.

Figure 10 is a cross section taken on line lO-IU of Fig. 9 showing the upper arm of the head with end sections of the p which extends around the opposite end extended therefrom.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved safety razor of this invention includes a blade l0 having thumb and finger gripping holders II and [2 at the ends of a bar I3, a U-shaped head formed of spring material and having an upper arm l4 and a lower arm l5 between which the blade III is .positioned, a lining 16 providing a continuous sharpening surface on the inner surfaces of the arms of the U-shaped head, and a handle I! threaded in a bar [8 which forms a base of a loop extended from the upper arm 14 of the back and which is connected to the arm M with end sections [9 and 20. The ends of the bar [8 being removably attached to the ends of the end sections by screws 21.

The blade I0 is of the conventional single cutis provided with a U-shaped reinforcing bar l3 view also with i the parts as shown in Fig. l and showirigithe T on the ends of which the holders l l and I2, which are in the form of segments are positioned. The holders may be provided with gripping surfaces 22 and 23, respectively.

With the holders H and I2 gripped between the thumb and forefinger of a hand and with the lower arm l5 of the head released, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the blade I is drawn rearwardly with the upper side of the cutting edge sliding over the leather lining strip I6, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The blade is drawn away from the head and at the end of this movement the blade is moved forwardly with the cutting edge held between the arms l4 and I5 whereby in the next movement the position of the blade is reversed whereby the lower side of the cutting edge slides over the lining strip l6, as shown in Fig. 7.

The lower arm of the U-shaped head is provided with comb teeth 24 forming a guard and this edge of the arm curves downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The handle I! is provided with a threaded stem 25 having a head 26 thereon and with the stem threaded in the bar It the end of the lower arm i5 may be moved upwardly against a blade It positioned between the arms whereby the blade may be positively clamped in operative or cutting position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2'.

With the parts arranged in this manner the blade may be used continuously with the blade clamped between the open ends of the arms of the head for use and freely positioned therein for sharpening.

When it is desired to remove and replace the blade the screws 2| are removed and the bar It dropped downwardly, to the position shown in Fig. 9 whereby the blade may be taken off and replaced.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of parts without departing form the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety razor comprising a strip of material bent midway of the length thereof forming substantially parallel arms providing a U-shaped head, one arm of said head having a loop extended therefrom and positioned around the other arm thereof, a sharpening surface on the inner surface of the. head, a handle having a threaded stem positioned with the stem threaded in the loop and adapted to engage said other arm of said head for moving said arm relative to said one arm of said head, and a safety razor blade having gripping elements on the ends positioned in the head and adapted to be clamped by the handle between the arms of the head for shav- 2. A safety razor as described in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the U-shaped head is lined with a strip of leather providing the sharpening surface.

3. A safety razor as described in claim 1 wherein the stem of the handle is provided with a head to prevent the handle being accidentally removed from the loop.

4. A safety razor as described in claim 1 wherein the loop extended from one arm of the head is provided with a removable section to facilitate removing the blade from the head.

5. A safety razor as described in claim 1 wherein the arm of the head extended through the loop is provided with arcuate guard teeth formed to correspond with the comb of a safety razor.

WILLIAM F. ECKERT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,386,353 Norton Aug. 2, 1921 1,859,554 De Haven May 24, 1932 

